5 The Heretic

[...Such a sinister realm]
[?!]
[Just crushed so effortlessly?!]
[Does Muzan regret granting cursed energy? But his expression is hard to read.]
[Not angry, but eerie, excited, restless.]
[Don’t forget, his craving for Yuji is like hunger, wow...]
[Muzan must have an ulterior motive. At first, he tried to turn people into demons; after failing, he changed his attitude. Yet the audience clearly senses his hidden agenda.]
[On one side is a mercurial, unpredictable, humanoid cold-blooded monster; on the other, a beautiful, feigned-devout follower.]
[They both pretend to “love” each other.]
[I’m really shipping this pair...]
[Me too. It’s like both harbor secret designs, yet share the same bed with different dreams. This pair is truly a dark realm—so good to ship, and really good indeed!]

As the live comments heatedly debated, the crowd beneath the platform quieted their breaths.

They momentarily failed to notice the bloody scene unfolding at the edge of the platform around the Special Grade cursed spirit; their attention was wholly drawn to Yuji Itadori.

Prayer worked—success...

Itadori only witnessed the finale of the sacred dance and heard the pleasant chime.

He was utterly shaken, whispering, “...So beautiful.”

But in the next instant, the blond youth atop the platform faltered, seemingly exhausted, and slanted downward.

Itadori Yuji: “!”

Instinctively, he dashed forward.

Thanks to his extraordinary physical abilities, he should be able to catch him solidly—no one was faster than him—

The cursed spirit that devours its master merely watched, not advancing.

Yet just as his hands nearly touched him, a swift black-and-red whip lashed toward his face; Itadori reflexively leaned back slightly.

Just that slight delay—

Suddenly, before his eyes, another cursed spirit appeared!

A pale, graceful black-haired cursed spirit, with a blond youth clinging to his bent right arm, regaining some consciousness.

He said, “Muzan...”

Muzan.

Muzan.

This human always acts coquettishly, enticingly, whether in movements or words, always “unintentionally” drawing his attention.

Few dare to call Kibutsuji Muzan by name.

Those who remain in Muzan’s memory are those who nearly vanished beneath his sword.

He dislikes those syllables, even if they are his own name.

Strangely, however, he does not hate this person’s voice.

This human never witnessed his disgrace nor knows his origins.

He prays and dances for him, the only heretic in this world.

He first looked down upon the world from the darkness;

Then he saw him.

[Anyone have a clip of this part of the livestream? Share it with me later—I want to listen over and over!!]
[Itadori, angel!]
[What’s Muzan doing?!]
[He’s so capricious, moody, acting purely on instinct—more like an insect than a human.]
[Acting all deadpan!!]
[Is he gonna catch him or not, deadpan dude?]

Suddenly, a fierce, fanged mouth appeared on Itadori’s face.

Two-Faced Sukuna: “Truly, such a waste of good material!”
“His body now reeks faintly of that pretty boy’s stench!”

He must be referring to Yuji Itadori.

Pretty boy...

Probably the shikigami.

Upon hearing this, Nobara Kugisaki peeked forward and murmured—quite fitting!

Megumi Fushiguro: “...”

* * *

“Smack!”

Itadori delivered a merciless slap to his own face, and just hearing it hurt.

Two-Faced Sukuna remained silent for less than half a second.

Then he emerged from the other cheek, displeased: “Pink-haired brat, you...”

Suddenly, a powerful suction surged from midair!

Its target was unmistakably the students from the Technical College.

Before anyone could react, they were lifted into the air, leaving only the cursed spirits on the ground—

Most of them appeared dazed, like headless flies, aimlessly searching for the “residual filth” that had previously bewildered and intoxicated them, indescribable yet undeniable.

In the next moment, a surging, overwhelming, cataclysmic purple cursed energy, carrying an immensely powerful energy cluster, swept down like a swimming dragon.

That strike barely grazed the Technical College students; they sensed an unmatched, awe-inspiring force.

The cursed energy erupted like molten lava.

Then, with unstoppable might, it spread a vast net, mercilessly devouring every cursed spirit on the ground.

Death swept through with no cursed spirit escaping.

“Boom—”

The earth trembled and mountains shook.

Roaring filled the ears!

In the tidal wave of cursed spirits overwhelming the Technical College, this single strike instantly reduced them to ash.

Of course, under the power of “Hollow Technique: Purple,” the entire surrounding buildings turned to dust as well.

The white-haired teacher hovering midair returned, a smile at his lips, softly chuckling: “Yuji, you really gave your teacher a big surprise!”

Naturally, the unconscious Yuji heard none of it.

[Teacher—!!]
[Power ceiling! Honestly, with the teacher back, we feel confident and safe!]
[That scumbag boss disappeared again.]
[Don’t worry, Muzan has started his stalking mode again; when it’s his turn for happiness, he’ll slip out silently (been there, done that).]
[The happiness guy lives up to his name.]

Elsewhere, Satoru Gojo summarized two points:

First, this catnip—its purity is far beyond expectation.

Second...

Gojo lifted the edge of his blindfold with a finger.

Those sky-blue, crystal-clear eyes caught the cursed mark on Yuji Itadori’s ring finger.

The moment it appeared, the fierce shikigami that devours its master actually grants cursed energy to the owner.

What exactly happened?

Interesting.

Gojo controlled “Azure” to gently lower the Technical College students to the ground.

This large area of buildings had become ruins under the full power of “Hollow Technique: Purple.”

Including the classrooms, training grounds, and medical room.

Nobara Kugisaki clicked her tongue, this was her first time witnessing that white-haired teacher’s attack.

It was beyond standard, and she couldn’t help but feel strong respect.

Survival instinct is human nature.

Itadori scratched his head: “The Technical College will have to be rebuilt, right?”

Besides this area, many buildings on the outskirts were also damaged by invading cursed spirits.

Low-level cursed spirits can pass through walls without damaging them, but higher-level ones cause destruction wherever they go, like locusts.

“Of course!”

Gojo shouted, “Yaga, request more funding.”

“I want to see a brand new, high-end Technical College in Tokyo, worthy of a five-star hotel!”

Then, his tone grew serious and low, “Most importantly, my room must have a hot spring pool!”

Yaga: “...”

[Laughs!]
[As expected of you, Gojo.]

Then Gojo waved his hand generously and said:

“As for those poor students who are homeless for now, they can temporarily stay at my place, okay?”

His tone was like a teacher taking students on a spring outing.

“Huh?!”

One of the Three Great Families—the Gojo family!

For a moment, the students cheered excitedly.

Even the lingering cursed energy haze in the sky was washed clean by the boys’ bright smiles, leaving it radiant and pure.

The perspective shifted.

Night.

A private conversation between teacher and student.

Yaga Noritoshi, the principal, furrowed his brow slightly. “Satoru, the director’s office called again just now. What do they want regarding Yuji Itadori?”

The white-haired teacher scoffed, dismissing those old geezers.

His ears were nearly calloused from it all. “They’re clamoring for a death sentence again.”

“They keep playing these games; it’s tiresome. I rejected them all.”

Yaga Noritoshi still worried.

“Those cowards fearing death will likely resort to underhanded tricks.”

Like secretly harassing the students.

Gojo chuckled lightly, leaning back.

“But I told them directly on the phone just now.”

“If anyone dares to lay a hand—

I’ll lift Yuji’s seal and send him right to their doorstep.

Let them taste what it’s like to be devoured by a cursed spirit tide!”

At these words, the once noisy group on the other end fell silent as if struck dumb.

Recalling that scene, Gojo almost laughed aloud.

Yaga Noritoshi: “That’s one way... I thought you had him go to the Gojo family just to protect him using your influence.”

Gojo lazily rested one hand behind his head on the sofa.

“Hmph, sending him to the Gojo family is for serious business.”

Yaga Noritoshi: “You mean?”

Gojo: “Yuji has a talent for cursed seals and talismans and naturally must be nurtured.”

“But there are no current sorcerers related to that craft, no mentors to guide him. The path will be tough.”

“However, the Gojo family happens to have some related materials and can provide assistance.”

[Ah, that makes sense!]
[I was thinking too simply before, assuming Gojo just wanted to protect Yuji from the director’s office. Turns out there’s more to it.]
[Teaching a man to fish rather than giving him fish, right?]
[Also killing two birds with one stone.]
[Teacher Gojo really is dependable!]

“By the way, I’ve already had someone look into Yuji Itadori’s background.”

Gojo nodded.

“What about that cursed spirit?”

Wasn’t it said to be from the same era as Two-Faced Sukuna?

“There isn’t much data left on that Special Grade cursed spirit,” Yaga Noritoshi said quietly, “but its threat level is undeniably high.”

“Ha.”

The white-haired youth chuckled softly, “Indeed, it’s a vicious hound.”

“But haven’t you noticed? Besides Yuji, it never cared about anyone else.”

That was true.

“On the surface, one side is a shikigami user with feeble cursed energy, unable to suppress the shikigami.”

“The other side is a Special Grade cursed spirit ready to devour its master at any moment...”

The white-haired teacher remarked with interest:

“So, who truly holds the upper hand?”